Kenya is annually losing an average of100 of its 2,000 lions due to growinghuman settlements, increasingfarming, climate change and disease,according to the Kenya WildlifeService."Lions have a
special place inKenyans' livelihood and conservationefforts," said Paul Udoto, aspokesman for the organisation. "Other than being the symbol for national strength, they are among the Big Five, a
major attraction for visitors toKenya."There were 2,749 lions in Kenya in 2002 and their population dropped to 2,280 by 2004 and to roughly 2,000 today,according to KWS
figures."The trend of lion population decline is disturbing and every effort needs to be made to ensure that Kenya eitherstabilises its population at the current population of 2,000 lions or
increases the numbers to an ecologically acceptablelevel," said Mr Udoto."Quick and decisive actions need to be taken to create public awareness as well as formulation of national guidelineson
lion conservation and management in the long term."Drought has pushed lions closer to waterholes near to human settlements, which themselves are increasing at "veryhigh rates", according to
KWS."There is no doubt that the numbers are in freefall. I'd be surprised if they even last as long as 20 years," said Laurence Frank, project director of Living With Lions, a
Kenya-based conservation organisation."When I first came here 30 years ago, you would always hear lions roaring across the ranglands at night and see theirtracks in the morning. Now that is very
rare."The reason is simple, lions eat cattle, and as the numbers of people grow, the numbers of cows increase. Alongsidethat there are ever more efficient ways, including poisoning, to kill
lions."Monday's warning came as conservationists were finalising work on a fresh strategy to save the animals which is dueto be launched next month.Part of the fight-back will include tracking
lions fitted with radio collars in the Amboseli area in southern Kenya, closeto the border with Tanzania. Wildlife officials in Tanzania face similar challenges in protecting their lions, but
there is far less human encroachmenton the animals' habitat there than in Kenya.